Petey's Story - A Little Boy With A Big Attitude 2011

He was rescued by Animal Control & taken to an animal shelter. Even with the shelter personnel, Petey would allow no one to touch him. He growled & bit at anyone who approached him.

Basically he was like a "feral" (wild) dog. He stayed in his crate until it was opened for him to run outdoors, to relieve himself.

A Foster Home took Petey into their home. Hoping this would help him calm down & become more approachable. The fear he had of humans & of being touched remained with him. Along with the "Fear Biting."

Foster personnel & shelter personnel knew they could not adopt out a biting dog that could not be touched by anyone. Some felt his only choice was euthanasia.

SHY/SHARP TEMPERAMENT DOGS NEVER CHANGE TOTALLY. THEY ARE CONSIDERED THE MOST UNPREDICTABLE OF DOGS & MANY TIMES THE MOST DANGEROUS. MOST TRAINERS & DOG PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND THIS & ALSO RECOMMEND THEY BE PUT DOWN, RATHER THAN ENDANGER A HUMAN LIFE or HURTING SOMEONE.

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PETEY BEING HELD BY DONNA LAWSON

WITH HIS NEW COAT ON I HAD GIVEN HIM FOR FEELING SECURE. FIRST HOLD IN TWO YEARS WITH NO BITE !!!

A young couple, who already owned 3 Chihuahuas, decided to take Petey & allow him to live his life with them. John & Megan Lazzaro of EHT, NJ gave Petey a loving home. He still avoided being held & bit at them constantly. While the other dogs sat on the sofa & cuddled daily with their owners. Petey just hid under the kitchen table in his bed. When Megan discovered she was pregnant, they realized they needed help with Petey fast .

My first phone call with them was not offering much hope when I heard his history for the last two years. However, I said I would visit them & see first hand.

Upon my entering their home, I was blasted with all dogs constant barking. I know it made me nuts, I can only imagine how it heighented Petey's anxiety. I had brought along with me a bright orange wrap on coat for Petey. Knowing that "swaddling" autistic kids calms them down, the theory also works for some dogs. I had to wrap a leash around his neck & pick him up. He struggled & screamed for a good 15 minutes of protest. I sat on the floor with him & knew he would eventually wear down. I needed to just be calm & wait. He stopped long enough for me to put his coat on him.

He calmed down long enough for me to hold him. I sat on the sofa & the other dogs came over to sniff him. He needed to become part of their pack. We took them outside to walk on leashes for the first time also. All of the dogs needed to learn some obedience along with Petey.

After 1 month of visiting them & working with them. I can proudly say Petey now sits on the sofa cuddling along with his friends, the other dogs in his new family. He will always be shy, but he now understands all humans & touch can be good. A little dog learned his big lesson of love because of loving new parents & a dog trainer with a bright orange coat. :)